Leach's Spider Crab - Inachus phalangium

Leach's Spider Crab, Inachus phalangium, is found all around Britain from just below low water mark to a depth of 50m. It has a small triangular carapace and long, slender legs covered in hook-like hairs. Its two frontal claws can be relatively large in the male and usually kept folded under the body The body is reddish-brown but generally this colour is not visible due to the crab being covered in encrusting animal life (as in the picture). This can be quite dense providing excellent disguise as it makes it hard to see the crab in its surroundings. Often also called the Decorator Crab

Leach's Spider Crab - Inachus phalangium

Leach's Spider Crab, Inachus phalangium, is found all around Britain from just below low water mark to a depth of 50m. It has a small triangular carapace and long, slender legs covered in hook-like hairs. Its two frontal claws can be relatively large in the male and usually kept folded under the body The body is reddish-brown but generally this colour is not visible due to the crab being covered in encrusting animal life (as in the picture). This can be quite dense providing excellent disguise as it makes it hard to see the crab in its surroundings. Often also called the Decorator Crab

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Loch Hourn, Western Scotland

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Leach's Spider Crab - Inachus phalangium

Leach's Spider Crab, Inachus phalangium, is found all around Britain from just below low water mark to a depth of 50m. It has a small triangular carapace and long, slender legs covered in hook-like hairs. Its two frontal claws can be relatively large in the male and usually kept folded under the body The body is reddish-brown but generally this colour is not visible due to the crab being covered in encrusting animal life (as in the picture). This can be quite dense providing excellent disguise as it makes it hard to see the crab in its surroundings. Often also called the Decorator Crab